Have questions about submitting to Pitch Wars or just want to know what it is? Start here!

Blog

PW #206: YA Thriller: VANISHED

Monday, 2 November 2015  |  Posted by Brenda Drake

Pitchwars Badge (Square YA)
Manuscript Status: Finished

Mentor Name: Erica M. Chapman and Brenda Drake
Mentee Name: Jenny Chou
Title: VANISHED
Category: Young Adult
Genre: Thriller
Word Count: 93,000

Pitch:

When Sasha’s jewel-thief father dies before completing his greatest heist, she and her brother resolve to pull off the job themselves. But their perfectly thought-out plans disintegrate into chaos. A girl resembling Sasha is accused of the crime, and Sasha discovers her father’s darkest secret. He stole more than jewels. He stole Sasha as well. To free her bewildered twin from suspicion, Sasha must unravel a knot of lies, and find a missing sapphire.

Excerpt:

Ankle deep in musty, wet autumn leaves, I gripped the freezing rung of a ladder, the cold metal biting through my rock-climbing gloves. Raj held the front and guided me around the bushes. Rough waves on the nearby shoreline crashed against rocks, and one blue heron called to another, a raspy, bleak sound.

I stopped, my stomach twisting with fright. Raj stumbled at the sudden jolt. “It’s ominous here after dark,” I whispered.

Raj shot me his sly grin. Very little scared my brother anymore. “Let’s get on with it then.”

We crept through Signora D’Agnelli’s garden, filled with sweet-smelling crocuses that would hang on until the first snow. On the terrace behind her eighteenth century villa, we propped the ladder against a wrought-iron balcony. Raj set his overstuffed backpack on a table beside the swimming pool and wrested his laptop free.

The dim light from the single lamppost veiled the terrace with shadows. I pulled a dried leaf from my ponytail and looked out over the pool. At the far end, a three-tiered marble fountain had been shut off for winter, but I pictured it aglow on summer nights. Signora’s grandson must throw fabulous swim parties for all his mates from school.

Sérieusement?” Raj said, cutting short my musings on too-adorable-to-be-real Luca D’Agnelli. “Sasha. Focus. This alarm is more of a parody than an actual alarm.”

 

Filed: Pitch Wars

8 Comments
  • Peter Knapp says:

    Sounds intriguing — I would love to take a look. Please send the full MS to query@newleafliterary.com with “Pete Knapp – PitchWars” in the subject. Thank you!

  • Mollie Glick says:

    Oooh… what an interesting twist! Please send me the full manuscript (mentioning Pitch Wars in the subject line) to mgsubmissions@foundrymedia.com.

  • Rena Rossner says:

    I’d love to read more of this! Please send the first 50 pages attached as a word document to:

    rena(at)thedeborahharrisagency(dot)com

    Thanks!

    Rena Rossner

  • Louise Fury says:

    I’d love to read more. Please send me the query, synopsis and first 5 chapters in a word doc to furyqueries(at)thebentagency(dot)com
    Include #pitchwars: (Title) in the subject line.
    Tnx!

  • I’d love to see this! Please send query, synopsis, and full manuscript to ESubmissions at SarahJaneFreymann.com. Thank you!

  • Christa Heschke says:

    Yes, please! Please send the first 25 pages, query and synopsis to chquery[at]mcintoshandotis[dot]com and put “Pitch Wars request” in the subject line.

    Thanks,

    Christa Heschke
    McIntosh & Otis, Inc.

  • Claire Anderson-Wheeler says:

    Hi Jenny

    I’m keen to read this – could you send me the full MS as a Word doc and if possible, an expanded synopsis (ideally 500-700 words)? claire at rhaliterary dot com.

    Looking forward to reading more!
    Claire

IMPORTANT!
We're thrilled at the different ways those in our Pitch Wars community are giving back—and we encourage them to do so. However, please keep in mind that Pitch Wars is not affiliated with any of these various contests, promotions, etc., including those of our mentors and mentees. Promoting any such opportunities via our social media channels doesn't imply endorsement or affiliation. We encourage you to do your research before participating.

Pitch Wars takes a stand. ANTI-BULLYING. Click here to review our policy

Pitch Wars 2021

Blog Archives

Blog Categories

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.